Carota Boys: The Carrot-Clad Fan Group Cheering for Jannik Sinner, Italy's Emerging Tennis Star
Meet the Carota Boys, Italy's most vibrant tennis fan group These six enthusiasts proudly sport full-body, eye-catching carrot costumes, radiating a contagious energy at major tournaments Their boisterous cheers and unwavering support for rising star Jannik Sinner make them impossible to ignore
At a major tennis tournament, it's impossible to overlook the Carota Boys, a group of six men dressed in vibrant, full-body orange carrot costumes. Their enthusiastic cheering for world No. 4 Jannik Sinner, who hails from northern Italy like them, can be heard before they are seen.
The Carota Boys' love for Sinner has truly flourished in the past seven months, endearing them to the tennis public. "To be honest, they are more famous than I am," Sinner told reporters during last month's ATP Tour Finals in Turin, where he was supported by his small but dedicated carrot-clad army.
The Carota Boys, comprised of Lorenzo Ferrato, Francesco Gaboardi, Gianluca Bertorello, Enrico Ponsi, Alessandro Dedominici, and Alberto Mondino, all hail from the northwest Italian town of Revello.
The idea for the Carota Boys stemmed from the friends' custom of purchasing tickets for tennis tournaments to commemorate each other's birthdays. This tradition led them to buy carrot costumes for this year's Italian Open in Rome.
The Carota Boys attend the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, Italy, watching Sinner take on Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas.
TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images
What inspired them? Sinner's unconventional snack choice of a carrot (or "carota" in Italian) during a break at a tournament in Vienna, Austria four years ago drew attention, with some linking it to the tennis star's orange hair.
The costumes were an instant hit, with Ferrato telling CNN Sport, "Before and after the match, many people are going crazy for this idea and asking us for a lot of pictures."
The fan club was initially planned to only last for a weekend, but after their trip to Rome, Lavazza, the coffee company, expressed interest in funding a trip to the French Open in Paris. This led to additional opportunities, including attending Wimbledon in London and the US Open in New York, where the Carota Boys passionately showed their support for their favorite player by dressing up as carrots. The year culminated with a trip to the ATP Tour Finals, where they witnessed Sinner make it to the final before ultimately losing to Novak Djokovic.
"We felt a tremendous amount of love for Jannik and for our team," Ferrato speaks about the vibrant atmosphere in Turin. Throughout the tournament, they were able to connect with Sinner and engage in tennis matches.
"We found a connection between us," Ferrato continues. "Jannik and all the Carota Boys come from a region near the mountains. He enjoys skiing, just like us. He values family, friends, and our team, the Carota Boys, which is built on the strong bonds of friendship that we share."
Sinner celebrates while representing Italy at the Davis Cup final in Malaga, Spain.
Clive Brunskill/Getty images for ITF
Gaboardi, the one who originally proposed purchasing the carrot costumes, concurs: "He's just like us - an ordinary guy... He's smart and dedicated to his future."
Away from the tennis court, the group has garnered a significant social media following. They started an Instagram account while on their way to the French Open in Paris, and have since gained over 72,000 followers by sharing lighthearted, humorous videos related to their fandom. Additionally, they have launched their own line of merchandise, featuring orange-themed t-shirts with their catchphrase, "Let's go Sinner, let's go!"
The Carota Boys are currently deliberating on what the upcoming year will bring. Despite juggling day jobs and taking time off for tournaments, they are determined to expand and energize their fan club. Ferrato expresses, "We are thrilled and proud to have brought more people to cheer for Jannik with the Carota Boys."
"It would be amazing to establish a global fan club, similar to the one for former MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, or perhaps for Formula One drivers like Max Verstappen or Michael Schumacher."
Sinner hits a serve against Daniil Medvedev during the ATP Tour Finals.
Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
At just 22 years old, Sinner is part of a promising group of young players that includes Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Denmark's Holger Rune. In the past year, Sinner has achieved great success, winning four ATP Tour titles, making it to the semifinals of Wimbledon, and even defeating Djokovic in the ATP Finals group stage before ultimately being bested by the Serb in the final.
Last month, when they met again in the Davis Cup, Sinner once again emerged victorious against the world No. 1 and ultimately lifted the trophy as Italy defeated Australia 2-0 in the final. With his agility and speed on the court, as well as his ability to deliver powerful ground shots, Sinner has established himself as a formidable opponent on the ATP Tour.
"Djokovic has described him as a versatile player who consistently hits the ball with precision on any surface. With his abundant talent, he has demonstrated that he is the future of our sport."
Anticipation is mounting for the 2024 season, and the Carota Boys are sure to support their favorite player every step of the way.
"In Italy, it's believed that making a prediction will bring bad luck," explains Ferrato. He then goes on to say, "In our hearts, we are hopeful that next year will be the one where he wins a grand slam."
For the fans dressed as carrots, Sinners' first major title would ignite their most exuberant and loudest celebrations yet.
